A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Segun Showunmi, has criticised Peter Obi and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over their political strategies ahead of the 2027 presidential election, questioning their ability to build a credible alternative to President Bola Tinubu....
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Segun Showunmi, has criticised Peter Obi and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over their political strategies ahead of the 2027 presidential election, questioning their ability to build a credible alternative to President Bola Tinubu.
Showunmi, convener of The Alternative Movement, argued that opposition politicians must demonstrate not only their desire to become president but also the practical capacity to implement their campaign promises and build lasting political institutions.
Speaking on TVC News’ Politics on Sunday, he was asked whether the Tinubu administration’s performance had strengthened the prospects of opposition figures seeking to challenge the President.
In response, Showunmi questioned the substance of Obi’s policy proposals and accused Atiku of repeatedly pursuing presidential ambitions at the expense of developing younger political leaders.
His remarks offered a sharp assessment of the opposition’s preparedness for the 2027 contest, while reinforcing his own support for Tinubu’s re-election.
Showunmi was particularly critical of Obi’s economic proposals, arguing that some of the former Anambra State governor’s promises lacked sufficient detail on implementation, financing and timelines.
He questioned how Obi would translate broad policy objectives, including shifting Nigeria from consumption to production, into measurable outcomes.
“Peter is a master of campaigning on a prospect that he doesn’t know how to construct,” Showunmi said.
He argued that proposals to expand agricultural production, for example, needed to explain how farmers would be incentivised, how implementation costs would be met and how long the policies would take to deliver results.
He questioned how a government led by Obi would mobilise farmers, provide the necessary support and address the structural problems that had affected previous agricultural programmes.
“What is the cost component of what he’s trying to do? What is the time frame by which he will implement it?” he asked.
Showunmi also argued that promises to tackle corruption and improve governance must take account of the constitutional and institutional responsibilities of the executive, legislature and public service.
He suggested that presidential candidates should explain how their proposals would work within Nigeria’s existing political and administrative structures rather than rely on broad declarations of intent.
His criticism centred on what he described as a gap between campaign rhetoric and the practical steps required to deliver results.
Showunmi also challenged Obi’s political record and approach to party-building, arguing that a presidential candidate needed a strong organisation and the ability to work with other political actors.
He recalled disagreements over political arrangements in Anambra State, saying he had previously tried to encourage broader collaboration around a governorship ticket.
According to Showunmi, the experience reinforced his concerns about Obi’s approach to working with other political figures.
He argued that presidential success depended on more than personal popularity or the ability to attract attention during campaigns.
Showunmi maintained that candidates needed to build durable political structures capable of mobilising voters and sustaining their programmes after elections.
He was dismissive of Obi’s prospects against Tinubu in 2027, predicting that the former Labour Party presidential candidate would lose.
Asked whether he was certain of that assessment, Showunmi replied: “He’s going to lose. Look, he’s going to lose.”
The prediction was his political opinion, rather than an established assessment of the outcome of an election that had yet to take place.
Showunmi’s criticism of Atiku was more personal, focusing on the former vice-president’s repeated attempts to become president and what he described as his failure to encourage younger leaders to emerge.
He said he had previously supported Atiku’s argument that private-sector principles could improve the efficiency of government.
However, Showunmi criticised Atiku for subsequently supporting policies he believed contradicted positions the former vice-president had previously represented.
He also questioned Atiku’s call for a return to fuel subsidy, arguing that such a proposal required a convincing explanation of how the government would finance it.
Beyond economic policy, Showunmi said Atiku’s long-running presidential ambition had contributed to political divisions and limited opportunities for other northern politicians.
He questioned why Atiku had not more actively supported younger politicians who could emerge as credible presidential contenders.
“Does that mean that he thinks that his life is only to be lived around an ambition that represents him being the only one that knows?” Showunmi asked.
He argued that experienced politicians should use their influence to mentor new leaders and facilitate political succession.
“Is there not a day he himself will even look at us and say, ‘Oh, I’ve groomed you people, come and run’?” he said, recalling a conversation with a northern political leader.
Showunmi maintained that Nigeria needed greater collaboration between generations of political leaders rather than a cycle in which established politicians repeatedly sought the same positions.
The PDP chieftain said his concerns about political succession were among the reasons he established The Alternative Movement.
He argued that Nigeria needed to create room for younger, capable leaders who could bring fresh ideas to governance.
According to him, political parties and their leaders should focus on developing institutions and grooming successors rather than treating presidential elections as personal contests.
He also questioned the tendency of opposition politicians to move between parties while pursuing presidential tickets, arguing that such movements could weaken political organisations and undermine coalition-building.
Showunmi said the country would benefit from a political culture in which leaders were prepared to collaborate, build stable structures and accept that national development required continuity beyond individual ambitions.
His comments reflected a broader argument that the opposition’s ability to challenge Tinubu would depend not simply on bringing prominent politicians together, but on resolving internal disagreements and agreeing on a credible political and policy platform.
Showunmi also addressed the argument that Obi’s candidacy represents an opportunity to address the South-East’s lack of a president in the current republic.
He acknowledged that regional equity was an important consideration in Nigerian politics but argued that it should not replace scrutiny of a candidate’s record, proposals and capacity to govern.
He maintained that presidential candidates should be assessed on their ability to build institutions and implement policies, rather than on regional sentiment alone.
On Atiku, he also challenged the assumption that being a northern candidate automatically guaranteed access to the region’s votes.
His position was that political support depended on more than geography and that candidates needed to demonstrate credibility, organisational strength and the capacity to unite voters.
Showunmi’s criticism of Obi and Atiku was consistent with his stated support for Tinubu’s second-term bid.
He argued that Nigeria needed continuity in economic policy and a political consensus centred on development.
He also credited Wike’s political alignment with helping to create a pathway for PDP members and sympathisers to support the President.
However, his assessment of the opposition raises questions about the extent to which personal rivalries, competing ambitions and disagreements over policy could affect efforts to challenge the ruling party.
For the opposition, the challenge ahead of 2027 will be to demonstrate that its candidates can offer workable alternatives to the current administration and build the political structures needed to compete effectively.
For Showunmi, the test is whether political leaders can move beyond individual ambitions and present Nigerians with a credible plan for governance.
His argument is that the 2027 contest should be about more than who wants the presidency: it should be about who can demonstrate the capacity to govern.